Delphi

190km from Athens

The center of the world

Delphi in legend previously called Pytho, in ancient times was a sacred precinct that served as the seat of Pythia, the major oracle who was consulted about important decisions throughout the ancient classical world.

Available Tours to Delphi

Archaeological site of Delphi

Explore sanctuaries of Apollo and Athena Pronaia, and ancient stadium and theater.

The oracle

The oracle had origins in prehistory and it became international in character and also fostered sentiments of Greek nationality, even though the nation of Greece was centuries away from realization.

Omphalos

The ancient Greeks considered the center of the world to be in Delphi, marked by the stone monument known as the omphalos (navel).

Temple of Apollo

The Temple of Apollo, god of music, harmony, light, healing, and oracles occupied the most important and prominent position in the Delphic Panhellenic Sanctuary. The edifice with the partially restored colonnade visible today dates to the 4th century BC; it is the third temple built at the same place. The famous oracle, the Pythia, operated inside the temple, the location chosen, according to one tradition, due to a sacred chasm beneath the site emitting vapors, which were inhaled by the Pythia. Some ancient writers state that the Pythia then entered a state of delirium and uttering inarticulate cries, which were then turned into equivocal oracles by the priests. This interpretation is controversial, and has been challenged by scholars such as Joseph Fontenrose and Lisa Maurizio, who argue that the ancient sources uniformly represent the Pythia speaking intelligibly, and giving prophecies in her own voice.

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Trip Advisor Reviews

Our driver and Greek philosopher, Notis, was a pleasure to spend the day with. He is so knowledgeable about all things Greek. We visited three monasteries in the sky — all had incredible views of the cliffs. You don’t have to be religious to appreciate the contemplativeness of this holy place. Thank you, Notis, for creating a memorable experience!

lorenzo

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11/10/2022

We had a wonderful day with Billy. It was a busy, packed day of sightseeing around the peninsula of Greece. He picked us up from the hotel right on time and showed us a great time all day. If you want to see a lot in one day, I would highly recommend this tour.

jdeluccia

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16/10/2022

A fabulous day out in the mountains! Our driver, Panos and guide George were informative and entertaining. The monastery, Temple of Apollo, and museum were fabulous. Lunch was included in a wonderful Cafe with a view. We ordered whatever we wanted. A stroll through a small picturesque village was a perfect ending. A great escape to country life in Greece.

Lori F

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10/05/2022

Delphi was magnificent! So much more than we thought it would be. The grounds were magical (as expected) and the museum was outstanding. The artifacts all around were definitely something to behold. Words and pictures cannot do them justice. Just to think how these temples and stadiums were built is mind blowing! We are also very grateful that we had Takis as our guide/driver. He was very friendly, helpful and professional, gave us good information and tips, and took us through all the winding city streets of Arachova. Another gem of a town we thoroughly enjoyed!

Donna D

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27/10/2022

We were a group of four. This was our post cruise extension in Athens. We specifically wanted to visit ancient Corinth, to follow the footsteps of the Apostle Paul in the Bible. I worked with the manager Aris prior to departure, on the details of pick up/drop off, and to obtain a licensed tour guide (additional cost) with biblical knowledge of Corinth. Aris was very responsive and communicated well and timely. Our pickup by driver George at port Piraeus was prompt and smooth. George was a gentleman, friendly, courteous, safe driver, always ready to get to the doors and came prepared with cold water bottles in the trunk. We had nice chats with George enroute to Corinth canal, about the local area and especially enjoyed learning about olive farming from him.

Jen J

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11/09/2022

We had an excellent Athens and Cape Sounio trip with Vasilis. Vasilis is very accommodating driver and provided us with water, WiFi and phone charge; excellent air conditioned van with a lot of space. He is prompt and was by our hotel at the scheduled time and is very careful driver. Vasilis showed main Athens highlights and recommended nice Greek restaurant for a dinner. We would go with Vasilis again.

Vladimir O

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09/07/2022

Everything was wonderful, Dimitris was a wealth of knowledge, and showed us around the city, while letting us do so at our own pace. Highly recommend!

Alexandra E

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12/09/2022

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